Tools for Spirituality
By Chiara Liane. Illustrated by Iz.
Spirituality – particuarly eastern philosophy – is becoming more prominent in western civilization. As I’ve grown older, I’ve definitely noticed within myself a deeper connection with ‘god’, ‘source’, ‘the universe’ – whatever you want to call it. I used to define myself as an atheist when I was a kid, the thought of religion and rules being too scary and rigid for me to consider following.
But spirituality means something different to everyone and there is no set or ‘right’ path that you must follow to attain it. Being aware that it’s a continuous, evolving journey will help you appreciate all the little lessons and truths we discover along the way. Below, I’ve listed some of the things which have helped me in my journey, which I hope may be of help to you.
Trusting My Intuition
Humans have been using their intuition since the dawn of time – how else would we have survived in times of food scarcity, extreme weather or the threat of dangerous predators? It’s something that comes naturally to us, but has been shut off in modern society due to our tendency to overvalue being logical and factual.
Those initial, inner gut feelings are rarely ‘off’, yet many of us try to rationalize and ignore them. Take some time to figure out how you truly feel – without anyone’s input, opinion or influence. What’s right for you will not be right for everyone, and only you can know deep down.
Being Grateful
It feels like we are all constantly living in a state of lack – “I don’t receive enough money/love/attention… etc.”. This cycle tends to repeat itself in circles in your head, inevitably creating a reality of more lack. But becoming more grateful for all that you have eventually provides absolute abundance.
Take a few moments of every day to thank your blessings; whether it’s good health, enough income, or loving friends and family. If you’re reading this article right now, there are so many things to be grateful for – an internet connection, for one. Just go from there.
Using Crystals
Besides being very pretty décor, crystals can be used as a powerful tool in healing your body and spirit. Each crystal has different properties and help with varying areas of life – for example, rose quartz is popular in attracting love whilst amethyst is often used in emotional healing. Meditating with crystals is a good way to harness their power, and personally, I love keeping a few on my bedside table or under my pillow. Even carrying some around with me reminds me to embody their properties whenever I glance at them.
Learning About Astrology
Astrology is something I’ve always been intrigued by, and was encouraged in by my mother (she completed my birth chart when I was born). Astrology is an ancient practice dating back to as far as 2000BC, wherein the Babylonians believed the stars influenced an individuals characteristics. Educating myself in astrology has made me feel there’s something bigger out there watching over me, guiding me on the right path, but also reminds me I’m only a small speckle in the universe.
For me, astrology has given me a more rounded understanding on how different human archetypes interact as well as a deeper connection with myself. Whilst I embody many parts of my birth chart (both good and bad), I recognise that it is not stagnant or ‘set-in-stone’ and I have the power to develop them into positive attributes.
Learning Tarot
Similar to astrology, tarot has been practiced for hundreds of years; the first deck believed to have been created in the mid 15th century. Whilst tarot can be used to predict the future, it can also be used to help clarify situations and give you direction. Reading tarot goes hand-in-hand with using your intuition and is such an important tool in giving guidance. Each card depicts certain concepts, attributes or people, and thus serves as a reminder to embody or disembody their meanings. I love reading for myself when I’m feeling a bit stuck – it’s fun to create a ritual of lighting incense, grabbing my crystals and making a tarot spread.
Understanding the Moon’s Cycle
It’s no coincidence that the length of a woman’s menstrual cycle is the same amount of time as the waxing and waning of the moon (28 days). The energy that the moon emits in different phases influences our emotional wellbeing and mood. Being aware of this energy helps us to harness it and create powerful manifestations. Writing down your goals and intentions around the new moon is extremely powerful, whilst reflecting and letting go of harmful energies work amazingly well with the full moon. I have a calendar up on my wall which tracks the moon phases during the year, but there’s also a bunch of apps you can download.
Editor’s note: Chiara wrote a guide to the phases of the moon for Sea Foaming, and it’s a complete and easy-to-understand resource for anyone. Check it out here.
Reading
Reading about spiritual concepts I’m interested in, whether that’s through books or the Internet, has provided me with profound insight into themes and ideas I’d never considered or explored. A quick list of some of my favourite spiritual books:
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Ask and it is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks
The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer
Creating Money by Roman & Duane Packer
Meditation
Whilst meditating can involve sitting cross-legged and chanting ‘auuummm’, it can also be as simple as being conscious of your breath for a few moments, or it could happen for you through painting, running or writing. Society has built up meditation to be a practice that must be followed in a set-conventional way, but the truth is meditation is achieved differently for everyone.
Think of something you do which makes you lose all awareness of time… something you could do for hours, barely aware of the minutes passing. That is meditation – being so present in the moment that your awareness of the past and future dissipates.
The more I practice spirituality, the more content I become with the present moment, evolving into this feeling of joy acting as a stable undercurrent to every situation that flows my way. There’s no right way to practice spirituality, but I know that my simple practices allow me to feel at peace and at one with the universe.